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The World Series of baseball will start at Kansas City’s Kauffman Stadium on Tuesday where the Royals face the New York Mets in a best of seven series.
Kansas City, the American League champions, have announced Edison Volquez as their starting pitcher for game one.
It should have been pitcher Yordano Ventura taking the ball for Kansas, but since he pitched in the last game of the American League Championship series against the Toronto Blue Jays, manager Ned Yost opted for veteran Volquez.
In his last start, Volquez threw a disappointing fifth game during the ALCS, surrendering five runs while striking out only two batters ending up with the loss. Although, in game one of the series, he did a brilliant job shutting down the Jays throughout six innings.
The right-hander posted a 13-9 game record alongside a 3.55 Earn Run Average, striking out 155 in 201 innings during the 2015 regular season.
Volquez is a bit of a gamble for manager Ned Yost but certainly has the skills to come up with the win. The Dominican will be in charge of leading the way for the Royals, who are back in the World Series after being defeated in last year’s brawl against the San Francisco Giants. The Royals obtained their one and only World Series ring in 1985.
The young and deep pitching staff of the National League Champions, New York Mets, announced Matt Harvey to take the mound in game one.
Harvey, who came back this season from a Tommy John surgery, impressed Major League baseball with his maintained fastball speed. He disrupted batters throughout the regular season posting a 2.71 ERA, 188 strikeouts and obtained 13 wins.
The right-hander has had a brilliant Postseason, working through 12.2 innings while winning both games he has started, allowing only four earned runs and striking out 16 batters.
New York manager Terry Collins decided for Harvey since young ace Jacob Degrom was dealing with fatigue.
The Mets, who have been in the Yankees shadow over the years, will look to obtain a Fall Classic for the first time since 1986.
Offense
The best team on the offensive side during the postseason has been the Kansas City Royals, collectively hitting 277 batting average, 15 home runs and 58 runs batted in.
They have clobbered their way into the World Series; this will be a critical factor since they will be facing one of the best pitching staff in baseball.
On the other hand, Mets have relied on their pitching staff and on infielder Daniel Murphys hot bat, who has connected a home run in six consecutive games.
New York shows a disappointing 235 batting average during the Postseason, alongside 14 home runs and a modest sum of 42 runs batted in.
Ones to watch
Royals: Designated hitter Kendry Morales and Venezuelan Salvador Perez have each connected four home runs gathering 17 RBI leading the team.
Mets: Daniel Murphy set the MLB record for most consecutive games hitting a home run and Cuban Yoenis Cespedes, who came to the team in a midseason blockbuster trade, has contributed in a big way for the team to reach the final stage.
Projected Royals Lineup
SS Alcides Escobar
2B Ben Zobrist (S)
CF Lorenzo Cain
1B Eric Hosmer (L)
DH Kendrys Morales (S)
3B Mike Moustakas (L)
C Salvador Perez
LF Alex Gordon (L)
RF Alex Rios
Projected Mets Lineup
RF Curtis Granderson (L)
3B David Wright
2B Daniel Murphy (L)
LF Yoenis Cespedes
1B Lucas Duda (L)
C Travis d’Arnaud
DH Michael Conforto (L)
SS Wilmer Flores
CF Juan Lagares
Projected Mets Rotation
1. Matt Harvey
2. Jacob deGrom
3. Noah Syndergaard
4. Steven Matz (L)
Projected Royals Rotation
1. Edinson Volquez
2. Johnny Cueto
3. Yordano Ventura
4. Chris Young
World Series Schedule
Tuesday, Oct. 27
Game 1 — New York at Kansas City
Matt Harvey vs. Edinson Volquez
Wednesday, Oct. 28
Game 2 — New York at Kansas City
Jacob deGrom vs. Johnny Cueto
Friday, Oct. 30
Game 3 — Kansas City at New York
Yordano Ventura vs. Noah Syndergaard
Saturday, Oct. 31
Game 4 —Kansas City at New York
Chris Young vs. Steven Matz
Sunday, Nov. 1
Game 5 — Kansas City at New York
Edinson Volquez vs. Matt Harvey
*if necessary
* First pitch at 8:15 p.m. ET, pregame at eight p.m. ET.
Tuesday, Nov. 3
Game 6 —New York at Kansas City
Jacob deGrom vs. Johnny Cueto
*if necessary
Wednesday, Nov 4
Game 7 — New York at Kansas City
Noah Syndergaard vs. Yordano Ventura
*if necessary
